Page 9 of A Dangerous Kind of Love

“Give me your number.”

I rattle it off. He stands there watching me. I wait. He keeps standing there.

“Are you going to put it in your phone, write it down, or something?”

He taps the side of his head. “It’s in here.”

“God, you’re weird.”

Michael raises one eyebrow, that smug little smirk returning as he steps down the porch steps backward, his hands sliding casually into the pockets of his suit pants. It is, unfortunately, a very attractive exit. It’s one that belongs at the end of a movie where the audience collectively sighs over the ridiculously charming male lead. Which is extremely annoying considering twenty minutes ago I was fully convinced this man might be a serial killer.

“I’ll be here at seven tomorrow night.”

I shake my head and reach for the door behind me.

“Okay, stalker,” I say. “See you then.”

I step inside, close the door behind me, and drop my purse on the table by the entryway. I just stand there, staring at the door. Then, curiosity gets the better of me. I walk to the front window and push the curtain aside just enough to look out. The black SUV is still sitting in my driveway. The engine is running, headlights casting a glow across the yard, but the car doesn’t move.

I frown.

What the hell?

After another few seconds, my phone buzzes in my hand.

555-672-5902: Lock your doors.

My heart lurches. I sprint to the door and slam the deadbolt into place.

Chapter 4

Michael

“Boss?” Luca says from the driver’s seat. His eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror as the SUV idles in Katie’s driveway.

“Yeah?”

“You think this is a good idea?”

Katie’s house is lit when I look up. She’s checking if we’re still here. Good girl.

“Did I ask you?”

Silence fills the car. I pull out my phone, typing in the number she gave me.

Me: Lock your doors.

I hit send, slide the phone back into my jacket, and lean back against the seat.

“Drive.”

The estate is quiet as the SUV pulls through the gates. When I reach the front door, it’s already open. Marco is waiting inside.

“Boss.”

Stepping through the entryway, I shrug off my jacket as I walk. Maria is already there to take it off my shoulders, and Marco falls in beside me.

“Perimeter’s clear tonight. There are two men rotating outside. Cameras are up and running. Luca had the new system checked earlier.”